This is one of my more "whimsical drawings." As a youngster I loved and dearly enjoyed all
fairytales, myths and legends. Coupled with a big imagination, I would often make up stories about the lives of the
faery folk I imagined living in the forest. I was the staunch and brave defender of the woodland!
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The forest near where I grew up is beautiful. There is a small canyon, complete with tall trees, and a rippling, singing brook. In these magical woods grow snowdrops, pungent skunk cabbage, star flowers, vine maple and fiddle fern. The moss grows thick beneath fragrant fir and cedar trees, where vast bunches of green sword fern grow unrestrained. A few years ago, we found ferns growing near the creek, with fronds more than six feet in length!
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As children, my brothers, sisters, cousins and I played in
Leprechaun Valley and
Deer Valley. There were beautiful places we named
Bambi's meadow,
Reflection Lake,
Castle Stump and
Fairy Wing Pond. We would follow the distinct trails of the deer into thickets of low growth beneath the cedar trees. There we would find green-walled rooms, complete with lush moss carpeting. I remember the loveliness of delicate maiden hair fern and the rare find of an Indian Peace Pipe plant.
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I recall long summer days spent exploring, building forts and tree houses, eating blackberries from vines covering the steep hillsides, and red huckleberries from "Huckleberry Bridge." I can retrace wading in the cool stream and the way the soft mud felt when we would sink our feet deep into the
Mud Flats formed by natural springs bubbling up from the rich brown earth.
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On this cold winter day, if I think hard enough, I can still smell the fragrance of the cedar trees and feel the green coolness of the forest on a hot summer day. I hear the stillness of the woods, spiked with bird calls, the creek's song and the crackling of underbrush beneath my bare feet.
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Have you ever wanted to fly on the back of a dragon? Or a flying dinosaur? Ah, I have to admit--that's a fond dream of mine.
This dragon is having a little playful fun, snorting hot steam against the boy's riding cloak. You can see the affectionate annoyance in the eyes of his young rider. As a dragon rider of Pern, the boy and his dragon often battle against incredible odds. It is good that they are friends. 
This is one of my more "whimsical drawings." As a youngster I loved and dearly enjoyed all fairytales, myths and legends. Coupled with a big imagination, I would often make up stories about the lives of the faery folk I imagined living in the forest. I was the staunch and brave defender of the woodland!
Here you see a fairytale warrior and his friend--guardians of the castle, valient defenders against those who would wrong others.
Here you see a dragon at rest in the skies above the cedar tree which shadows our front lawn. To best see the artwork, click for a larger image. He's a cute little fellow!
Above you see the dragon as I first saw it yesterday afternoon. Click for the larger photo and you'll see the three-dimensional image of a dragon face already etched in the clouds. It is rather astonishing.
One wonders where such stories came from. I've wondered--Is it possible an ancient dinosaur habitually emerged from his lair to eat--terrorizing towns and cities, only to be vanquished by the hero of the day? Historical truth can sometimes be stranger than fiction. (grin)
These two are guarded by a giant lizard who, by the look in his eye, has great affection for these two girls. It seems he may have decided to become their protector. You would not want to tangle with such a guardian, if he took a dislike to you. (grin)
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